Tag-affixing machine.



W. & F. L. BORCHERT.

TAG AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.30, 1917.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

23 xx 22 a W. & F. L. BORCHERT.

TAG AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.30, l9l7.

Patented Mar. 11,1919

w. & F. L. BORCH'ERT.

- TAG AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED NOV-30, IEHI.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JLM'GCQFWM 5. BEIGE,

WILLIAM IBORCI-IERT AND FRED L. EORCHERT, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

TAG-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,664.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM Bononnn'r and FRED L. Boaonnn'r, citizens of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of'Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tag-Afiixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the aflixing of tags to flat material and is of special utility in commercial laundries where small tags are affixed to customers goods and subse quently marked with. an identifying character. As will be seen later, however, our improvements are in no way limited to laundry use, since we contemplate the affixing of tags to flatgoods or material of any description; but since we have designed the present machine principally for use in laundries to aflix a tag of special construction, namelya U- shaped metal, cloth covered tag to garments,

we will, for purpose of clarity describe generally this adaptation to use.

Prior to the production of the present machine semi-automatic tag aiiiXing machines offered to the laundrymen have been deficient in many respects so far as conditions and requirements of the laundry is concerned; A machine of this character must be universally used, hence it is desired that it shall be adapted equally well to large and small laundries. Simplicity and durability in construction and operation are therefore important factors and in these respects prior machlnes have not fulfilled the need. As a consequence much trouble 1seXper1enced 111 111- stalling machines to operate properly, and in use the parts become clogged and worn and require repairs quite frequently so that in these and other respects such machines have not. satisfactorily met the desired needs. 7

In the present invention we have aimed primarily to overcome the deficiencies of prior machines and have devised a tag affixing inachlne altogether novel in both con struction and manner of operation and which fully meets the conditions and requirements of large and small laundries and of other establishments where U-shaped tags or the like are to'be aifixed to flat material.

We have also aimed to provide a machine of the character described which shall be semi-automatic in operation, that is, shall re-' quire only simple manipulation to cause various operations resulting in the afiixlng of the tag, and which shall also be of such simple Patented Mar. 11, 1919. r

construction and of few parts that it may be produced at a comparatively low cost.

In furtherance of these general objects we have incorporated into our aflixing machine many novel features of advantage and practicability. These might be mentioned briefly at. this time as constituting various phases of our improvements and will be fully described and dealt with hereinafter. One of these obj ects is to provide a novel tag aflixing device by means of which a tag may be very securely clamped or clenched to the edgeof fiat piece of material by a simple downward pressing movement of the hands without removing them from the material after it has been positioned in the clenching mouth, or rather between the clenching jaws. This device embodies means by which the hand pressure applied in afiixing the tag is multiplied in a very effective manner to secure the desired clenching pressure. Another object resides in the carrying of the tag afiixing device from an at-rest or work-receiving position to a tag-receiving position at which a tag will be automatically fed into the mouth of the device from a magazine containing a large number of tags, whereupon the device will be returned loaded to its original position and may then be operated as first mentioned to aiiix'the tag independently of the mechanism employed for ment. A further object is to provide a novel tag-carryingmeans or magazine whereby the tags will be individually mounted and held in position and carried successively to the loading stat-ion at which they will be successively fed or loaded into the ailixing device as mentioned. Our improvements also contemplate the provision of means for operating through the actuation of a single lever, the several mechanisms and devices just mentioned in timedrelation and sequence in the feeding of tags to the affixing device and the moving of the latter to and from its workreceiving position. A still further object is to provide a machine of the character described which is portable and may be placed clamping position; Fig. 5 s a fragmentary view showlng the considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tag affiXing machine embodying our improve ments, showing the mixing device in a workreceiving position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, partially broken away to show the interior of the tag magazine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the affixing device moved to a clenching or parts having fed a tag into the affixing device;

Fig. 6 is also a fragmentary view showing the position of the operating lever when the parts have been moved to the position shown in Fig. 5; V

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a crosssectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the comb feederand the tag feeder respectively; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a laundry tag especially adapted to be handled by this machine.

7 Before entering into a detailed description of our improvements we believe a brief account of its functions will facilitate a clear understanding of the invention. It might first be mentioned that the tag especially adapted to be affixed is of the type generally known as a laundry tag of U-sh ape and, asshown in Fig. 11, consists of a U- shaped pliable metal body 1% enveloped by a fabric cover 15 so that when the tag is clenched onto a. flat piece of material the spurs'16 secure the tag against displacement and the outer fabric affords surfaces adapted to receive the owners identifying mark which may be applied either by a pen or a .lnechanical marking machine. In the present invention we mount the tags in rows on carriers or combs andplace the same in a magazine. Mechanism is provided for feeding a comb in step by step movements to advance the tags successively to a feeding or loading station at which the tag thereat will beefed into the mouth of an affixing or clenching device. This device is movable from this tag-rece1v1ng posltion to a work receiving position at which the operator may insert an edge of a garment or any flat piece of material into the mouth of the aflixing device and consequently in the mouthof the tag therein and then press downwardly on said device without removing the hands from the garment and in this downward movement cause the tag to be flattened and firmly clenched onto the work. Upon release of the downward pressure the afiiXing device will automatically return to its original position and thetagged work may be withdrawn. The empty aflixing device may then be moved to its tag-receiving position and loaded as previously mentioned. The operation of loading the affixing device is semiautomatic in that theooperator must actuate a handle which operates the mechanism for advancing the tag comb, moving the affixing device to and from the tag-receiving position and feeding a tag from the comb to the aflixing device, these several operations taking place in proper sequence. Thus the operator simply moves the lever back and forth in a quick movement to place the ma chine in condition to aflix a tag, and by a simple downward movement of the affixing device the tag is clenched. This operation may be repeated until the tags of a single 7 comb have been aflixed whereupon a new 7 comb of tags will be substituted for the empty one.

Coming now to present embodiment of 'our improvements, we have provided a relatively flat base. 17 equipped with apair of spaced upright standards designated generally by characters 18 and 19, interposed between and upon which the several mechanisms mentioned are mounted. Of these, we'will first con the construction of they shaped to provide spaced sides 23 joined by V a cross head or jaw 24, the sides having respectively formed therein mouths 25 and 26 and laterally projecting ears or thumb rests 27. These mouths, itwill be noted, are disposed at diiferent elevations or planes, one above the other, for a purpose mentioned hereinafter. The element 21 constitutes element 22 interposed between the sides 23 a movable jaw, since it is movable toward and from the jaw 24. The jaws are both supported and operated by simple compound levers 28 and 29 disposed atboth sides of the jaws and pivotally connected at one end 31 to the sides 23 of the jaw 21 and inter mediate their ends at 32 to the jaw 22. The

levers in turn are pivotally attached at 33 to the free end of arms 34 pivotally mounted at 35 upon the upstanding portions of the standards. It will be observed from the said device bodily to and from a lowered or tag-receiving position in which the mouth of the clenching device is faced directly downward, and that when the arms 34: are locked against such movement by means described hereinafter the affixing device may be moved downwardly about the pivots 33, or rather, the pivotal mounting of the levers, by pressure upon the thumb rests 27. During this downward movement of the affixing device or clenching head, illustrated in Fig. 4, the jaw 22 will be movedtoward the jaw 24 in a powerful clenching action, due to the mechanical advantage gained by the leverage arrangement shown. Thus the hand pressure applied in pressing down on the thumb rests is multiplied and increasingly applied to the jaws in clenching a tag in the mouth of the head between the jaws, and consequently the tag will be very securely attached to the work and also flattened to provide an effectual marking surface and to be as compact as possible Means is provided for automatically returning the clenching head to its work-receiving position, consisting in this instance of expansion springs 36 confined and concealed in the body of the jaws 22 and exerting their pressure against a pair of studs 37 depending from the jaw 24L, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.. Obviously the springs normally hold the jaws in the work-receiving position, shown in Fig. 3,

and permit the jaws to be yieldingly moved to the clenched position shown in Fig. 4. The studs 87 also serve as stops which define the back of the tag-receiving mouth and against which the arch or back of a tag is adapted to abut, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In order to yieldingly hold a tag .in the mouth and to prevent accidental displacement of the tag therefrom we have provided a fiat spring finger 38 adapted to yieldingly bear against the top of the tag. And be- 7 cause of the manner in which the spurs 16 are arranged at diagonally opposite corners of the tag mouth as shown in Fig. '11, the months 25 and 26 of the clenching head are arranged in different planes in order that the work to be tagged may be easily and properly inserted into the tag mouth without interference with the spurs. It will be observed that when a tag is positioned in the clenching head the months 25 and 26 are disposed adjacent to those inner corners of the tag which have no spurs, or, in other words, the spurs are covered at the sides by the walls 23 due to the arrangement of the I mouths 25 and 26. Consequently the edge of the work to be tagged will be inserted in an inclinedmanner oneside higher than the other as determined by the months 25 and 26 to avoid the spurs 16 and permit full inser' tion of the material into the tag mouth. From the foregoing it will be manifest that every precaution has been taken to produce an affixing device which any unskilled person can easily and correctly operate and which is so designed that a very powerful clenching pressure is obtained with very few parts of simple and inexpensive construction. We will now consider the tag carriers and magazine and then follow with the tag feeding mechanism. somewhat enlarged and shaped to house the tag. magazine, includes upright sides 39 which are surmounted by a cover plate 41.

The compartment 4-2 thus provided servesv The fore part of the base,

as a magazine in which is kept a plurality of tag carriers or combs each of which adapted to carry a row of tags in substantially abutting relation so that a large number of tags may be carried. A comb is formed of a body i3 preferably of sheet ma.- terial and provided at one edge with equally spaced teeth 44 each of which is adapted to fit into the mouth of one tag centrally be tween the sides thereof, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 7. This form of tag carrier is very desirable in that it may be easily loaded because the tags (which are sold separately) 7 are contained in rows in boxes with the mouths facing upwardly, allowing a combto be inserted into the mouths of a whole row of tags simultaneously." Furthermore, a comb thus loaded with'tags may be placed directly into the machine and serve as a. carrier which may be advanced in step by step.

movements by the feeder cooperating with the comb teeth to thereby bring the tags successively to a loading station, and sincethe comb does not occupy the entire month ofa tag a feeding member may enter the mouth and feed the tag into the clenching device. A channel provided to receive the body 453 of a comb is arranged so that the tags travel'in a plane in vertical alinement with the mouth of the clenching head and in. proximity to such mouthwhen it is in its lowermost or tag-receiving position. The channel may be formed in any suitable manner and in tho 7 present instance is made of sheet metal plates 46 secured to the base. The inner walls 457 of the plates define the sides of the channel which receive the comb body 43 and the front ends of the outer walls are shaped to provide tapered guides 48 which cause any uneven tags on the comb to be moved centrally thereof when a comb is manually 1 slid into" the channel 45 from the front of the machine. 'The remaining combs simi larly loaded with tags may be stored in the magazine at both sides of the central channel, and we have found that a simple and practical way of arranging the combs there in is to invert them so that the tags rest on the top of the base and the top edge of the combs are guided in slots 49 formed in a depending flange of the cover plate and serv ing to hold the combs in upright position.

l/Vhen a comb has been emptied, that is, fed completely through the machine, a loaded after, whereupon the tag supply is ready for sently to be described.

use.

Means is now provided'for removing one tag at a time from the comb and inserting it into the mouth of the clenching device and then to advance the comb one step to bring the next succeeding tag to the loading station. This includes a tag feeder and a comb feeder, designated generally by characters 51 and 52 respectively, and illustrated separately, in Figs. 9 and 10. Both are in reality simple rocking arms pivotally mounted at one end on a stationary shaft 53 in turn interposed between and mounted upon the standards. The tag feeder 51', it will be observed, is disposed in the path of travel of the central comb, and is partially parted longitudinally as atv 54 to allow the comb to pass through the machine. The .free end of the tag feeder normally rests on the base and is equipped with pair of upstanding fingers 55 straddlingthe comb and headed as at 56. When a tag is positioned directly over the finger ends the feeder may be raised to carry its fingers into the tag mouth, remove the tag from the comb and insert the tag into the mouth of the clenching head which has been moved to the tag-receiving position by mechanism pre- The headed fingers fit just snugly enough in the tag mouth to insure a proper hold of the tag and yet allow thefingers to be withdrawn from the tag after it has been fully moved into the clenching head mouth and, engaged therein by the spring 38; The comb feeder 52 it will be seen, is equipped at its free end with a downturned finger 57 overlying thecomb and adapted to enter between two adjacent teeth thereof to move the comb lengthwise one step, that is, the distance between centers of two adjacent teeth. For this purpose the feeder 52, as noted in Fig. 9, is'provided with a slot 58 through which'the shaft 53 passes, permitting the desired lengthwise movement of the feeder. It will be apparent thereforethat the comb feeder finger 57 is capable of a downward movement to engage in a comb and a lengthwise movement to advance the comb, and thence to be with drawn from the comb and positioned again over the next succeeding tooth opening. Attention 1s here called to the fact that there v is no interference between the comb feeder and the tag feeder because the latter is raised and lowered again while the former is withdrawn in its feed movement from the path of, the tag feeder, as will be presently mentioned.

Mechanism for operating the tag and comb feeders and also for moving the clenching head to its several positions, is in. the

present instance, for purpose of simplicity, V

manually operable. It includes therefor, a

hand crank or lever 59 fixed to the rock shaft 61 mounted on the standards forwardly of the shaft 53, as'shown. The connection between the rock shaft and arms 34 for moving the clenching head is established through the agency of an ,arm 62 fixed to one of the pivot pins 35, anangular link 63 pivotally connected at'6O to the arm 62 and an arm 64 (Figs. '6, 7 and 8) loose on the rocking shaft 61 and pivotally connected by means of ins 65 to the lower end of the link 63. It will be noted that arm 64 is positioned on the rocking-shaft adjacent to the outer side of the standard 19 and that the hand crank spaced outwardly from said arm is in reality a bell crank having an arm 66 through which motion is transmitted to the arm 64. A yielding and lost motion con;

nection is provided between the arms '64 and 66 consisting of a spring 67 coiled-about the shaft 61 and having one end engaging a lug 68 on a bellcrank and the other end a lug 69 on the arm 64. The pressure of this spring is applied to constantly urge the 7 V head'of the pin 65 against 'the wall .of the recess 71 in an inner side of the arm 66, or in other words the spring serves to malntainf a connection between the arms 64 and 66 holding them in fixed relation so that they will move together, but permits the arm '66 to be moved independently of the arm 64 in v that the. pivot 65 has bee'ncarried beyond" a dead center line between the centers 60, 6l f and-65 and is limited in such movement by abutment of the link 63 against the lug or stop ,69. This lockingefiect may be broken,

however, by moving the hand crank 59 in a counter-clockwise cllrectlon, and in contlnuing' this movement of the crankto the; positron shown in Fig. 6'the clenching device will be moved from its work-recelving position'to the tag-receiving position shown in This position of the clenching de vice is limited by abutment of its head against a fixed stop, such, for instance, as

' tion and the latter portion of such-movement is employed to operate the comb feeder and thetag feeder. In the forward movement of the hand crank 59, motion is transmitted from its arm 66 to the arm 64: and consequently to the clenching device, until the latter is stopped by the abutment 7 2, whereupon the crank may be moved during the final portion of its stroke independently of the clenching device and its operating connections, a short distance as shown in Fig. 6. During this final movement the shaft 61 will be rocked to operate the feeder 51. It will be manifest that this final movement is possible due to the yielding connection between the hand crank and arm 64 and is against the pressure of the spring 67. Upon releasing the lever the spring will return the lever until the wall of the recess 71 abuts against the stud 65, whereupon a -mal position, shown in Figs. land 3. hen

the clenching device has been thus returned to normal position a pair of thrust arms 73 secured to the rock shaft 61 just within the inner sides of the standards will be brought into abutting relation with .the free ends of the arms 34, shown clearly in Fig. 3, and thereby serve as an effectual means for locking the arms 3% against movement in one direction, while movement in the opposite direction is precluded by reason of the locking effect of thelink 63. The means operable between the rock shaft 61 and the comb and tag feeders consistsofan arm 7 4: secured to the rock shaft'and adapted to cooperate at this free end with cam surfaces on thecomb and tag feeders. As shown in Fig. 3 the arm 74: engages the inclined sur face 7 5 of the comb feeder 52. This comb feeder it will be noted, is sustained in the position shown by means of an overhead extension 76 which rests on the cam surface 77 formed integral with the collar of the arm 74. As this arm 74: is oscillated in a counter clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 3, by movement of the hand crank forwardly, the first action to occur will be a lowering of the comb feeder finger 57 into engagement with the comb, due to the fact that the cam 77 is revolved sufliciently to allow the part 76 of the comb feeder to be lowered under the influence of a suitable spring 78. WVhen the comb feeder has been thus lowered the arm 74; will engage the abrupt inclined surface 79 of the cam feeder and will move the latter lengthwise a sufiicient distance to advance the comb one step as mentioned above and to thereby position the tag A directly over the feeder head 56 at a loading orfeeding station. Continuing the movement of the arm 74% in a counter-clockwise direction by the final forward movement of.

which overlies the tag feeder will be bodily V lifted upwardly without performing any The latter arm it will be observed, operates.

in its reverse movement directly on the surface 82 of the tag feeder and moves the same to its lowered normal position. During the latter part of the movement of the arm 74, when the hand crank 59 is being moved rearwardly, the cam 77 will raise the comb feeder to withdraw its finger 57 from the comb and the free end ofthe arm 74 will engage the inclined surface 75 and move the comb feeder forwardly to the position shownin Fig. 3.

From the foregoing it will be manifest that aside from the direct affixing of a tag the movement of the various parts are all performed and controlled by simply moving the hand crank forwardly as far as it will go and then returning the crank to its original position. In thus moving the crank it'has been seen that the first action to occur is the withdrawing of the thrust arm 73 from the arms 34.- and the breaking of the lock 63 which allows the arms 34 and consequently the clenching device to be swung to tag-receiving position. As the hand crank 59 is swung forwardly the clenching device is moved to the lowered or tag-receiving position and brought to a stop, and

about the same time the comb feeder advances the comb one step through the agency of the cam 79 and arm 74. Then during the final short movement of the hand crank after the clenching device has been brought to rest a tag is fed into the mouth of said device by the tag feeder 51. These operations take placevery rapidl yand in proper timed sequence, since it will be ob vious that in operation the operator des res to load the machine as quickly as possible and consequently draws the hand crank for wardly in a rapid stroke. Similarly the sevscribed above to affix or clench a tag to the edge of a piece of material. It will be ob served that the clenching device when in this position may operate entirely independently of the other operating mechanism and that the means for supporting the clenching device, namelythe arms 34:, are rigidly maintained and held againstthe thrust arms73 which withstand the backward and downward thrust upon the arms 34 following from the downward thrust upon the clenching device.

' been aflixed and the ailixing device returned is free to be removed from the mouth of said device. Referring now to the placing of a to its at-rest position the tagged material comb into the machine, the hand crank 59 is moved forward to a position in which the comb-feeder is lowered and moved back so that its finger 57 is positioned at its rearmost point of travel and in the path of the comb so as to serve as a stop for limiting the advance of the comb into the channel. Thus when the hand crank is further moved forward the first tag will be fed into the affixing device and upon the next operation of the hand crank the finger 57 will enter the first empty tooth space and advance the comb one step.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clearunderstanding of the manner in which the objects prefaced above have been accomplished, and wewish it to be understood that the particular embodiment of our improvements shown is simply for the purpose of illustrating theprinciplesthereof. Hence various changes might be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, in which- IVe claimr 1. A devic for clamping tags orthe like onto flat material comprising a pair of relatively movable'jaws, and means for supporting the jaws consistingof a lever pivotally mounted at one end and connected at its free end respectively to each jaw, the pivots of which are unequally distant from the pivot axis, of the lever, so that when the lever is swung about its pivotal mounting the aWs will be relatively moved by the lever in a clamping action.

Manifestly, after the tag has 2. In: a tag-affixing machine, a pair" of relatively movable jaws between which a tag may be placed to be clenched by closing movement of the jaws, and a lever pivotally mounted at one end and pivotally connected.

at its free end to each of the jaws, the aw pivots being unequally distant from the pivot axis of the lever, whereby when the lever is swung about said axis the'jaws will be relatively moved by the lever in a closing,

action. 7 r

3. In a nachine of the character described, a tag afl ixing device comprising spaced sides fixed to a cross portion which constitutes a jaw, a second jaw interposed between saidsides and movable toward andfrom the first aw, supporting means, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said supporting means and pivotally connected to said jaws, whereby when the aiiixing device iscarried bythe leversabout the pivotal. mounting thereof on the supporting means the jaws will be relativelymoved in a clamping. action. 7

4. In a tag aflixing machine, a tag aflixing device comprising a. casing having spaced V sides and across portion constituting a jaw, a second jaw interposed between said sides and movable toward and from the first jaw, each side of the casing beingshapedto provide an openingor mouth to the jaws, said mouths being disposed at different distances from or with respect to the first jaw, and

means for causing the'jaws to be relatively moved in aclamping action. 7

5. A tag aflixing means comprising relatively movable aws' normally held open for the reception of a tag and apiece of mate rial to be taggedby closing movement of the jaws, and SUPPOIUIIO means for the jaws consisting of a pair .of levers pivotally mounted at one end and connected at their pivotally mounted at one end'and connected 7 at its free end to each of said aws at un-' equal distances from the pivot axis of the lever, whereby upon swinging the levers they will move the jaws relatively in'a clamping action, and means constantly urging the levers in a direction to hold the jaws in an open or work-receiving position. 7 i

7. In a. tag aifixing machine, a tag affixing device having relatively movable parts for clenching tags onto flat material, a pivotally mounted lever structure pivotally connected.

respectively to each of said relativelymovable parts at unequal dlstances from its piv-. otal mounting so that when swung on such mounting said parts will be relatively moved 7 7 thereby in a clamping action, and means allowing said lever structure to be moved independently of its clamping action movement to carry the affixing device into and out of a tag-receiving position.

8. In a tag afiixing machine, a tag afiixing device having relatively movable parts for clenching tags onto flat material, a pivotally mounted lever structure pivotally connected respectively to each of said relatively movable parts at unequal distances from its pivotal mounting so that when swung on such mounting said parts will be relatively moved by said lever structure in a clamping action, means allowing said lever structure to be moved independently of its clamping action movement to carry the affixing device into and out of a tag-receiving position, means for feeding a tag into the afiixing device when in said tag-receiving position, and a common operating means for causing the affixing device to be moved to and from said tag-receiving position and for causing the tag feeding means to feed a tag into the at fixing device when the latter has been moved to said tag-receiving position.

9. In a tag affixing machine, a tag affixing device having relatively movable parts for clenching tags onto flat material, a pivotally mounted lever structure pivotally connected respectively to each of said relatively movable parts at unequal distances from its pivotal mounting sothat when swung on such mounting said parts will be relatively moved thereby in a clamping action, means allowing the lever structure to be moved independently of its clamping action movement 'to carry the'afiixing device into and out of a I tag-receiving position, means for feeding a tag into the afiixing device when in said tagreceiving position, and mechanism including a member movable back and forth for moving the affixing device to said tag-receiving position and to feed a tag to said device when the member is movedin one direction and for returning the ailixing device to normal position upon movement of said member in an opposite direction.

10. In a tag afiixing machine, the combination of a tag magazine, an affixing device, means for moving the aiiixing'device into and out of proximity to the magazine, means for feeding a tag from the magazine into the affixing device when the latter'has been; positioned in proximity to the magazinc, a roclcshaft. means for rocking the same in opposite directions, and connections between the rock-shaft, the affixing device and the feeding means for moving the ing device into tag-receiving position and for causing the tag feeding means to feed a tag into the affixing device when the rockshaft has been moved in one direction and for returning the affixing-device and tagfeeding meansto normal position when the rock-shaft has been moved in the opposite direction.

11. In a tag affixing machine, the com- 7 bination of a clenching device having relatively movable jaws between and by which a tag may be clenched onto a piece of material inserted between the jaws, the clenching device being movable as an entirety to and from a tag-receiving position, a tag magazinmrmeans for feeding a tag from the magazine into the clenching device between the jaws thereof when said device has been moved to said tag-receiving position, and mechanism operated by a single operating member for causing the clenching device to be moved to said tag-receiving position and for operating said tag feeding means. I r

12. In a tag aiiixing machine, the combination of a clenching device movable to and from a tag-receiving position, means for carrying a row of tags, means for moving the tag-carrying means in step by step 'movements to successively position the tags at a feeder station, and means for removing a tag at the feeding station from said carrying means and for feeding the tag into the clenching device when the latter has been moved to its tagreceiving position. 7

18. In a tag aiiixing machine, the combination of means for affixing a tag, a comb adapted to carry a row of tags, means for moving the comb instep by step movements to successively position the tags at a feeding station, and means for removing a tag at said station from the comb and positioning the tag in said afiixing means.

14. In a tag aiiixing machine, the coming the tag-carying means in step by ste movemcnts'to successively position by eacii such movement a single tag at a feeding station, and means for removing the tag at the feeding station from said carrying means and for placing the tag in cooperative relation with the atfixing means.

15. 111 a tag affixing machine, the combination of means for affixing a tag, a carrler constructed to carry a row of tags and movable in step by step movements to sue-V 'bination of means for affixing a tag, means 7 for-carrying a row of tags, means for movcooperative relation with the tag afiixing means, and means operated by a single member'to cause said carrier and tag moving means to be operated in timed relation whereby the tag carrier will be advanced to position a tag at the feedingstation and the tag moving means will move this tag into cooperative relation'with the aflixing means. 7

17. In a tag affixing machine, the combination of a device for affixinga tag and movable to and from a tag-receiving position, a carrier constructed to carry a row of tags-and being movable in step by step movements to successively position the tags at a feeding station, and means for removing the tag at the feeding station from the carrier and positioning the-tag fully into the afliXing device when the latter has been moved to its tag-receiving position. I

18. In a tag afiixing machine, the combination of a device for affixing a tag and movable to and'from a tag-receiving position, a carrier constructed to carry a row,

of tags'and being movable in step by step movements" to successively position the tags at a feeding station, means for removing V the tag at the feeding station from the car- 7 rier and feeding the tag fully into the aflixing device Whenthe latter has been moved to its tag-receiving position, and mechanism for operating the tag affixing device,

7 tag carrier and tag feeding means in timed relation, whereby to move said affixing de vice and tag carrier respectively to tagreceiving and tag-feeding positions and to then operate the tag feeding means.

19. In a tag aflixing machine, the combination of a device having parts relatively movable in a clamping action for afiixing a tag to a piece of material inserted between said parts, said device being movable as an entirety to and from a tag-recewmg pOS1' tion, means for causing a row of tags to be moved in step by step movements to succes-' fsively position the tags at a feeding station, and'means for'moving the tag at the feeding station into the affixing device when the latter has been moved to its tag-receiving position. 7

20. Ina tag affixing machine, the combination of a device for affixing U-shaped tags and movable to and; from a tag-receiving position, acomb provided with teeth each of which is adapted to carry one of said tags,

(means for moving the comb in step by step movements to' successively position the tags r at a feeding station, means for removing the tag at the feeding station from the comb and placingthe tag into the afiixing device when the latter has been moved to its tagreceiving position. 7 21.v In a tag aflixing machine, the combination of means for affixing a U-shaped tag to flat material, a carrier provided with a row of teeth each of which is adapted to enter the month of one of said tags, means for moving said carrier to successively position its tags at a feeding station, and means for causing the tag at the feeding station to be fed to the aflixing means. 7 7 V 22. In tag affixing machine, the combination of means foraiiixing U-shaped tags to fiatrmaterial, a carrier provided'with a row of teeth eachof which is adapted to enter the mouth of a tag, means for removing one tag at a time from the toothed carrier, and means for positioning the removed tag in the afiixing means. 7 7

23. In a tag affixing machine, the combination of a tag carrier having a series of teeth each of which is adapted to enter the to thereby support the same, means for re moving one tag at a time from the carrier, and means engageable with an empty tooth of the carrier for moving the same a given distance toposition the next succeeding tagequipped tooth in operative relation to said tag removing means.

25. In a tag affixing machine, thecombination with means for affixing U-shaped tags toflat material, of' a carrier equipped with a row of teeth adapted for carrying a row of tags,and mechanism for removing a tag from one of the teeth and then engaging an empty tooth to advance the carrier to a position in which the neXt succeeding tag may be removed; j

26. In a tag aflixing machine, the combination ofa tag 'afiiXingdevice movable from V a work-receiving to a tag-receiving position, a carrier adaptedto carrya row of tags and being movable in step by step movements'to successively position its tags at a feeding station, a feeder for moving the tag at the feeding station into theaftixing 'de-' vice when the latterhas been moved to its tag-recelving position, means for advanc ing the tag carrier in said step by step movements, and mechanism for operating the foregoing devices in timed relation for caustion and'thence into the affi'xing device.

7 27. In a tag affixing machine, the combination of a tag'affixing device movable from a work-receiving to a tag-receiving position,

7 a carrier adaptedto carry a row of tags and being movable in step by step movements to carry the tags to a feeding station, a feeder 7' ing a tag to be moved to the feeding stafor moving the tag at the feeding station into the affixing device when the latter has been moved to its tag-receiving position, means for advancmg the tag carrier in said 7 step by step movements, and mechanism including a single operating member movable in one direction for causing the carrier to position a ta at the feeding station, for moving the a Xing device to its tag-receiving position and for causing a tag to be fed into the affixing device.

28. In a tag affixing machine, the combination of a tag affixing device movable from a Work-receiving to a tag-receiving position, a carrier adapted to carry a row of tags and being movable in step by step movements to successively position its tags at a feeding station, a feeder for moving the tag at the feeding station into the affixing device when the latter has been moved to its tag-receiving position, means for advancing the tag carrier in said step by step movements, and mechanism for operating the foregoing in timed relation, including a single operating member having one movement in which to cause the affixing device to be moved to tagreceiving position and to cause a tag to be fed into the clamping device and having another movement in which to return the affixing device and other parts to their normal position.

29. The combination of means for affixing U-shaped tags to flat material, a carrier provided with a plurality of teeth each of which is adapted to engage within the mouth of a tag and thereby support the same, and a means for removing'one tag at a time from the carrier so thatthe removed tag may be affixed by said affixing means.

30. In a tag affixing machine, a comb having a series of teeth adapted for supporting a row of tags, and means for moving the comb in step by step movements to successively position the tags at a loading station.

31. In a tag affixing machine, a comb having a series of teeth each of which is adapted to enter themouth of a tag and to thereby support the same, and tag feeding means adapted also to enter the mouth of a .tag positioned on one of the comb teeth and to remove the tag therefrom.

32. The combination of means for affixing U-shaped tags to flat material, a comb each tooth of which is adapted to enter the mouth of the tag to support the same and allow a portion of the tag to project beyond both sides of the tooth, and a feeder having spaced fingers adapted to straddle the comb and enter the mouth of a tag at both sides of the comb and to remove the tag therefrom.

33. In a tag afiixing machine, a tag aflixing device movable back and forth from a work-receiving to a tag-receiving position,

means for carrying a row of tags and movable to successively positlon each tag at a feeding station, a pair of rocking arms one of which is adapted to remove the tag at the feeding station and to place it into the affiXing device when the latter is in tag-receiving position, and the other arm of which is adapted to advance the tag-carrying means in step by step movements to successively position the tags at the feeding station, and

means for moving the affixing device to and from its tag receiving position and for opable to successively position each tag at a feeding station, separate means for advancing the tag carrier in step by step movements for successively moving the tags to the feeding station and for feeding the tag thereat into the affixing device when the latter is at its tag-receiving position, and

mechanism to operate in predetermined timed relation said affixing device and said separate means to move the aflixing device to and from its work-receiving position and during the interval of such movement to feed a tag from the carrier into the affixing device.

35. In a tag-affixing machine, the combination of a tag-affixing device having relatively movable jaws for clamping a tag onto a piece of material inserted between the jaws, a tag magazine, means for moving the affixing device as an entirety from a workreceiving position to a tag-receiving position, and means for feeding a tag into the aflixing device between the jaws thereof at the tag-receiving position.

36. In a tag-affixing machine, the combination of a tag-carrier having a serrated face for carrying a row of tags, and means operable upon said serrated face for advancing the carrier and its tags.

37. In a tag-afiixing machine, a tag-afiixing device having normally separated jaws between which a tag may be positioned and which are relatively movable in a clamping action to affiX the tag therebetween to a piece of material inserted between the jaws in cooperative relation with the tag, a swinging support for said tag-affixing device upon which the latter is movable as an entirety into and out of work-receiving position, and means for feeding a tag into the affixing device during the interval of its movement into and out of said work-receiving position.

38. In a tag-aflixin machine, the combination of a pair of re atively movable jaws, levers each pivotally connected at one end at spaced points to each of the jaws and pivotally mounted attheir opposite ends on fixed pivots, by reason of which construction the levers when swung about their pivots will close the jaws in a clamping action to thereby afiix: a tag. 7

39. Ina tag-affixing machine, the combination of a tag-affixing device having nor- Vmally separated jaws which are relatively movable in a clamping action to aiiix a tag to a piece of material inserted between the jaws, a tag magazine, a rock shaft, means for tag from the magazine .to said device, and

for returning the tag-affixing device to normal position during movement of the shaft in the opposite direction.

WM. BORCHERT. iFRED L. BORCHERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. Y r 

